1. If it is true that the Yankees dangled Jesus Montero for Soria, then I’m none too happy. Using Montero as trade bait for a guy like Cliff Lee is understandable. Doing so for a reliever, even if they want to make Soria a starter as he was in Mexico, is not something the Yankees should be doing. While Soria is a difference maker out of the bullpen, that’s not worth trading a stud hitting prospect like Montero. That said, I’d still like to see if the Yankees could get a hold of Soria without having to give up Montero or fellow catching prospect Austin Romine. Granted, the chances of that are ridiculously small. If the Yankees and Royals can’t match up in the next day or two, they should just cut the cord.

2. Not surprisingly, the Yankees have found the cost for Adam Dunn “prohibitive.” My dream is slowly, slowly dying. But, at the end of the day, that’s probably a good thing. I’d love Dunn as the Yankees’ DH and he would be a difference maker with the bat, but the Nationals are apparently playing very hard ball with Dunn. I want Dunn, but I don’t want to pay through the nose for a rental.

3. As I thought, the Yankees aren’t in on Oswalt. However, this Ted Lilly rumor just doesn’t want to die. Heyman says the Yankees like Lilly. Well, sure they do. He’s a solid pitcher who’s apparently available, but I don’t think he’s a difference maker like Cliff Lee nor does he have the youth/upside/friendly contract of Dan Haren.

As for the Haren package consisting of Zach McAllister and Ivan Nova with two prospects, I’m totally cool with that. Like Steve wrote yesterday, I don’t think the Diamondbacks did as well as they could have in their trade of Dan Haren and may’ve done better if they did indeed trade with the Yankees. Of course, that depends on who the other two prospects were. I would’ve had little trouble adding Joba Chamberlain to the package, though in that case I would’ve wanted to take out one of Z-Mac or Nova. This may come as a surprise considering I’ve been very supportive of Joba over the last three seasons, but if he’s not going to start for the Yankees, the most value he could bring to the team is via trade.

Dunn should be a Type A, plus he’s about the only compliment to Zimmerman in that lineup (Willingham perhaps excepted), that’s why they’re asking for the moon.Soria’s not going to be a starter, he’s coming here to lock down the 8th and be the heir to Mo.

I really don’t see a Joba package being built for Soria now that he has been taken out of the 8th unless the Royals have scouts telling them that he can be a top starter with the right work and I don’t think that is the case. That being said I really doubt a Soria to the Yankees trade is going to happen, there is just to much in the way of acquiring him when you consider all the factors. T.O. Chris H(Quote)